How to pronounce tutu
Say it like TOO-too. Tutu has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tutu. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TOO
- too
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tutu pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- tooGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of tutu
American and British speakers say tutu in essentially the same way: /ˈtuˌtu/ in the US and /ˈtuːtuː/ in the UK.
British respelling: TOO-too.
What does tutu mean?
- A ballet skirt made of layered stiff but light netting.“The ballet dancer representing the swan wore a white tutu.”
- Any of certain members of genus Coriaria of shrubs and trees found in New Zealand, including Coriaria arborea and Coriaria pottsiana, used by the Maori to make a sweetener, but toxic when not properly prepared.
- to fiddle or mess around with something.
Where does tutu come from?
Borrowed from French tutu, from cucu (“bum, bottom”), playful reduplication of cul (“arse”).
Questions about saying tutu
How do you pronounce tutu?
Say TOO-too. The American pronunciation is /ˈtuˌtu/. In British English it is /ˈtuːtuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tutu?
Tutu has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOO). Broken into parts: TOO · too.
Do Americans and Brits say tutu the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtuˌtu/ and the British form is /ˈtuːtuː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.